U.S. Embassy, DepEd launch new teacher training program

The U.S. Embassy in the Philippines, in partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd), on Monday launched a new virtual series for teachers and educators in support of the country’s transition to digital learning during the COVID-19 pandemic.

DepEd Undersecretary for Curriculum and Instruction Diosdado San Antonio and U.S. Embassy Public Affairs Counselor Philip Roskamp opened the series in front of a virtual audience of more than 3,600 education administrators.

More than 8,000 teachers and administrators are expected to participate in the live series, which will run from September 14 through October 23.  After the series concludes, participants will share their knowledge and skills with other teachers and administrators across the Philippines.

The new series was designed by a team of three American English Language Specialists in the United States to meet the specific needs of Filipino teachers and students.

The Specialists, who developed the curriculum based on the education standards in the Philippines, will deliver a series of virtual classes on the multiple learning modalities.

Course content includes guidance, methodology, instructional materials, and resources to assist with the delivery of online and other non-face-to-face classroom instruction, critical for continuing the education of Filipino students during the pandemic.

During his remarks at the program launch, U.S. Embassy Public Affairs Counselor Philip Roskamp explained, “We are extremely honored to partner with DepEd’s Bureau of Learning Delivery and the National Educators Academy of the Philippines on this important program. American English Language Specialists will use the latest instructional techniques to best support Filipino students’ learning during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Undersecretary San Antonio further stated, “We are very grateful for the generosity of the team in making possible this rare opportunity to learn from their Specialists on how best we could provide language teaching, particularly in the time of COVID-19.  I commend the Bureau of Learning Delivery and the National Educators Academy of the Philippines for your efforts in partnering with our generous stakeholders and benefactors.  My sincerest gratitude to our partners from the U.S. Embassy for making sure that our fellow language teachers will be capacitated.”

As part of the project, an on-demand resource library for teachers and administrators is also being developed for professional development purposes, with a viewing guide, activities, and discussion questions for local learning communities.

The project is sponsored by the U.S. Embassy’s Regional English Language Office, which works with DepEd, education administrators, and teachers to enhance English language learning.